Comments on: Suddenly, Nothing Happened: The New Year’s Eve Plaza Wrap-Up – January 5, 2012

By: Halloween Bacchanal Spares McKinley, Disfigures Policeman – November 7, 2012 | The Arcata Eye

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 23:47:27 +0000

[...] phalanx of police officers that kept the Plaza’s core free of destruction last New Year’s Eve did the same on Halloween last week, but it didn’t stop those committed to spoiling the evening [...]

By: kevpod

kevpod — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:47:25 +0000

Both the lower figure for City-related damage and Chapman’s larger overall estimate were well known among those who authorized the tactics for the occasion, including police presence. I disagree that any deceit was involved.

Nor did I discern any intimidation. One could well argue that the flying bottles and fighting drunks on Halloween and previous New Years were considerably more intimidating to anyone wishing to use the Plaza.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:50:39 +0000

Chief Chapman and the APD certainly do deserve some amount of credit for averting another Halloween like debacle on the plaza. I don’t want to come across as too much of a bomb thrower from the sidelines…but I do take issue at the way the New Years Eve strategy was justified, particularly the continual citation of a an inaccurate $30k damage estimate stemming from the events of Halloween 2011.

While I can claim no credentials on the topic of policing holiday crowds, I can say that I don’t agree with the tactics employed by the massive police presence on the plaza this New Years Eve. The air of intimidation created by the police presence was decidedly un-celebratory.

I commend Chief Chapman for acknowledging that he “speak(s) too freely sometimes and shouldn’t”. This recognition is surely a sign of professionalism and I would agree that citing a $30k damage estimate falls pretty squarely in the category of “shouldn’t”. Maybe I just speak for myself here, but I cannot excuse public officials and/or the media for employing deceit to further their aims.

Perhaps ‘deceit’ is a strong term, but it does seem quite clear to me that false/dubious information was used to further the interests of the police force. After all, there is no doubt in my mind that an overwhelming show of force, as seen on New Years Eve, benefits the culture of law enforcement (and, in my opinion, competes withe public interest). Would all of the other police jurisdictions have been as willing to “(take) care of their own”, if such an overwhelming show of force WAS NOT planned?

By: Ian Ray

Ian Ray — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:41:47 +0000

I agree with Mark Sailors. Hopefully Chapman’s thoughtful leadership and public communications will continue.

By: Mark Sailors

Mark Sailors — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:31:09 +0000

“I can’t fault the reporter, as I speak too freely sometimes and shouldn’t,” Chapman said. “I was speaking in the broader context and have to take responsibility.”

You do a fantastic job.

You communicate with the press and general public in a very thoughtful manner and try to explain police actions and tactics to the average citizen.

In my opinion we are lucky to have such an open, honest police chief.

Kudos.